East Cape Lighthouse

East Cape Lighthouse is located on the east coast of the North Island. It is the most easterly lighthouse in New Zealand (not including the Chatham Islands).

Callsign: ZLOK
Location: 37°41’ S, 178°33’ E
Elevation: 154 metres above sea level
Construction: cast iron tower
Tower height: 15 metres
Light configuration: rotating LED beacon
Light flash character: white light flashing once every 10 seconds
Power source: batteries charged by solar panels
Range: 19 nautical miles (35 kilometres)
Date light first lit: 1900
Automated: 1985
Demanned: 1985

This lighthouse was originally located on East Island, just off East Cape, where it was first lit in 1900.

This location was troublesome right from the start. A boat from the government steamer Hinemoa capsized while bringing tower construction materials to East Island, and four men drowned.

Poverty Bay Herald, 5 June 1899:

SAD BOATING FATALITY.
ACCIDENT AT THE EAST CAPE
HINEMOA LOSES FOUR MEN.
CHIEF OFFICER AND THREE SAILORS DROWNED.

The S.S. Te Anau, upon arrival from the north last night, brought news of a serious boating fatality at the East Cape, resulting in the loss of the chief officer and three sailors from the Government steamer Hinemoa.

Captain Bernech reports that upon arrival off East Cape Island at midday yesterday he received signals from the lighthouse there, that the latter wished to communicate. The Te Anau was stopped, and waited half-an-hour whilst signals were exchanged.

The overseer of the lighthouse works signalled that the master of the Hinemoa (Capt. Bollard) wished it to be reported that the chief officer and three sailors had been drowned whilst landing cargo at East Island on Friday last. Two bodies had been recovered on Sunday morning.

The matter was reported promptly to the Collector of Customs at Gisborne, and Mr Pasley, as soon as the telegraph office opened this morning, sent advice of the sad occurrence to the Marine Department at Wellington.

Further particulars received from the Press Association will he found below: —

Wellington, to-day.

The Marine Department have received a telegram from Captain Bollard, of the Government steamer Hinemoa, stating that four lives have been lost by the swamping of a boat at the East Cape. The names of those drowned are:
W. Brown, chief officer.
M. Buchanan, A.B.
C.O. Sterman, A.B.
O. Sjoblom, A.B.

The second mate, Mr Hardy, and a seaman named Weymark were also precipitated into the water, but were saved. The boat was endeavoring to effect a landing when the accident happened. No further particulars are given. The steamer has gone on to Auckland, where an enquiry will be held.

The Premier and Minister of Marine have sent messages to the relatives of those drowned expressing their sympathy.

East Island was also very unstable and the cliffs were constantly being eroded and slipping into the ocean. By the 1920s these slips were coming close to the lighthouse, and the decision was made to relocate the lighthouse to the mainland.

The light on East Island was extinguished in April 1922. The tower and all the buildings were relocated to the mainland. The East Cape Lighthouse began operation in December 1922.

Life at East Island was hard. The clay soil made it hard to grow vegetables or keep stock.

When the light was moved to the mainland life improved. Keepers could travel to town for supplies and their children could attend the local school. They were also able to grow vegetables and keep stock.

The lighthouse at East Cape was originally a three-keeper station but this was reduced to two keepers and then just one keeper, until the last keeper was withdrawn in 1985.

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